ISC and Zero Waste Foundation Sign MoU to Advance Global Climate Action

Istanbul, Türkiye – October 16, 2025

The Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference (ISC) and the Zero Waste Foundation (ZWF) formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on October 16, 2025, at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center, marking an important milestone in advancing global environmental sustainability and climate action.

The MoU was signed by Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, Secretary General of ISC, and Mr. Mustafa Erdağı, General Manager of the Zero Waste Foundation. The ISC delegation was led by Secretary General Dhakal, accompanied by Mr. Man-ho Woo, Executive Director of the ISC Permanent Secretariat, and four other members of the ISC delegation.

Partnership for Environmental Leadership

Through this partnership, ISC and the Zero Waste Foundation will collaborate on promoting zero-waste initiatives, climate awareness programs, and legislative reforms across the global parliamentary community. The agreement builds upon ISC's commitment to supporting speakers and parliamentarians in addressing pressing environmental challenges through legislative action and policy development.

The partnership emphasizes several key areas of cooperation:

• Advocacy for zero-waste policies and sustainable development

• Public education and awareness programs on environmental protection

• Support for legislative frameworks promoting waste reduction and responsible consumption

• Knowledge sharing and best practices among parliamentary leaders

Addressing Global Environmental Challenges

During the signing ceremony, Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş highlighted the urgency of addressing the global waste crisis, noting that over 90% of all plastics ever produced remain unrecycled, posing significant challenges to public health and environmental sustainability.

The MoU reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to empower parliamentary leaders with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to drive meaningful environmental legislation in their respective countries. Through this collaboration, ISC aims to facilitate greater coordination among speakers and legislators worldwide in translating international climate commitments into concrete national policies and implementation strategies.

This partnership represents an important step forward in ISC's ongoing efforts to support its members in exercising leadership on critical global issues, particularly in the realm of environmental protection and sustainable development.

The Opening of the Zero Waste Forum 2025

The Zero Waste Forum 2025 is currently taking place in Istanbul under the leadership of Her Excellency Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye, bringing together participants from 104 countries to advance global sustainable waste management practices.

Organized by the Zero Waste Foundation in partnership with key Turkish ministries, the forum is held under the theme "People, Places, Progress," emphasizing the translation of policies into concrete actions, scaling effective waste solutions, mobilizing financial resources, and fostering robust international partnerships for environmental sustainability.

The forum has attracted distinguished global leaders, including UN Under-Secretary-General Guy Bernard Ryder, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach, and Azerbaijan's Climate Representative Mukhtar Babayev. The active engagement of Türkiye's Environment Minister Murat Kurum and Agriculture Minister İbrahim Yumaklı reflects the nation's strong commitment to advancing the zero-waste vision globally.

ISC is participating as a key partner alongside the United Nations, the Government of Türkiye, and other international organizations in this important initiative, reinforcing the vital role of parliamentary leadership in achieving global environmental goals.